[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 23, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E751-E752]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING ARMANDO VAZQUEZ-RAMOS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JUAN VARGAS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 23, 2024

  Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Armando Vazquez-Ramos, 
an outstanding professor, who has served our Southern Californian 
communities as an educator and activist for more than 55 years since 
1968.
  Professor Vazquez-Ramos' family has been active with unions since the 
1970's, holding leadership roles in different organizations across 
Southern California and active roles

[[Page E752]]

with the California Faculty Association, California Teachers 
Association and National Education Association for over 35 years.
  Professor Vazquez-Ramos earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mexican-American 
Studies and a Master's in Psychology at California State University, 
Long Beach and a Master's in Public Administration at Pepperdine 
University. As a student leader in 1969, Professor Vazquez-Ramos was a 
co-founder of the Chicano and Latino Studies department at California 
State University, Long Beach.
  He has taught various topics and issues related to Chicano/Latino 
studies at California State University, Long Beach Chicano and Latino 
Studies Department. During his time at the Office of International 
Programs, he promoted California-Mexico exchange and North American 
Studies programs. Since 1998, he has led travel-study groups to Mexico, 
Cuba and Venezuela for students, faculty, and union leaders.
  In 1999, he also established the California-Mexico Project at 
California State University, Long Beach. The California-Mexico Project 
raised scholarship funds for students to study abroad in Mexico and 
promote educational exchange. In 2008, Assembly Concurrent Resolution 
146 recognized the California-Mexico Project and directed the 
California Research Bureau to conduct the ``The California Research 
Bureau Report on California-Mexico Study Abroad Programs'' study.
  In 2010, Professor Vazquez-Ramos' established the non-profit 
California-Mexico Studies Center to research, develop, promote, and 
establish policies and programs between higher educational institutions 
and cultural organizations that will enhance the teaching, mobility and 
exchange of faculty, students, and professionals between California and 
the U.S. with Mexico.
  The establishment and creation of the California-Mexico Studies 
Center has allowed more than 400 students a safe opportunity to study 
abroad with an additional 200 students who participated through the 
California-Mexico Dreamers Study Abroad Program. The California-Mexico 
Dreamers Study Abroad Program was precedent-setting study abroad model 
which Professor Vazquez-Ramos established in 2014.
  Professor Vazquez-Ramos has impacted the lives of thousands of 
students during his 55-year career and has created the opportunity for 
students to return to their birthplace, meet their families, and 
discover their homeland while advancing their academic careers. His 
legacy career has established precedent and model programs for 
universities and colleges to follow for future generations.
  Professor Vazquez-Ramos was awarded the Barrio Station Lifetime 
Achievement Award on March 14th during the Barrio Station 54th 
Anniversary Dinner. He is celebrated for his dedication and lifelong 
commitment to his students and our community as a devoted professor, 
innovator, and mentor.

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